Memantine HCl/Donepezil Combo Improves Functioning

A phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of the combination of memantine HCl (Namenda) and donepezil HCl (Aricept) showed that patients were able to maintain higher functional abilities, such as grooming and toileting, as well as showing improved behavioral symptoms, including irritability and agitation. The study of 404 patients treated with the memantine/donepezil combination demonstrated higher functioning, as measured by the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study?Activities of Daily Living. This instrument assesses 19 activities of daily living, including personal care, communicating, simple domestic chores, maintaining autonomy, and making judgments and decisions. Patients taking the drug combination scored significantly higher in grooming, being left alone, and toileting, compared with those patients taking only donepezil.